After the major letdown of UFC 190, which saw Arvada’s Neil Magny lose in a second round tap out and Ronda Rousey earn a 34-second KO, it seems that some people were looking for a fight. Maybe the UFC fight had nothing to do with it, but tempers flared at Dove Valley on Sunday as veterans Ryan Harris and Derek Wolfe went after one another during morning practice.
As MHSM columnist D-Mac noted in his Training Camp Blog for the day, some media members didn’t see this as a fight – trying to downplay the situation. But D-Mac sure was convinced…
Ryan Harris, who got his second day of right tackle starting in a row, pushed soon-to-be-suspended Derek Wolfe after a play was done. Wolfe sized him up and talked some smack. Harris responded with his mouth and Wolfe responded with a fist. It was as loud, semi-connecting roundhouse. Harris responded – sort of. They tussled for a couple of seconds and then it was done.
Now in his third stint with the Broncos, Harris is competing for the wide-open job of right tackle. Despite Chris Clark being named the starter at the position during minicamp, Harris has every opportunity to snatch the job away and is already getting first team reps.
Wolfe, meanwhile, is still coming to terms it seems with the fact that he’s going to miss the first four games of the regular season due to a PED suspension.
He spoke with the media after Friday’s morning practice and said, “I’m not even thinking about that suspension right now.
“I’m thinking about what we can do to get better as a team in this moment and at this time. One play at a time, that’s just how I’m taking it.”
The Broncos coaching staff is certainly hoping one play at a time doesn’t lead to one fight at a time. Denver doesn’t have tremendous experience at Wolfe’s position, especially in the event newly-signed veteran Antonio Smith were to experience further legal troubles that could keep him off the field. They can’t afford to lose Wolfe, but ongoing actions like this could be a major concern for a club that also needs its O-line to stay intact.
Denver needs Wolfe on the field, and he needs to remember that Harris could play an important role in the revamped offensive line. Any more fights, with Harris or anyone else, could tighten what is an already thin rope for Wolfe.
